GIS Career and Education Awareness Website

San Diego State University Geography Program

GIS are Everywhere!
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are technological tools to collect, store, query, analyze, and visualize spatially-associated data and information.

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) technology, vehicle navigation technology, online maps like Mapquest and Google Maps, and virtual globe software applications like Google Earth and NASA World Wind are specific applications of GIS technology. Many people are familiar with these cutting-edge applications. However, they might not realize that they are using GIS and related geospatial technologies everyday.

GIS can be used to solve both Science Questions and Practical Problems!

Science Questions (Scientific Theories & Methods):
• How do Earthquakes happen?
(Related link: BBC Earthquakes )
• How do Wildfires occur?
(Related link: NASA Natural Hazards:Fires)
• What are the main reasons for global warming?
(Related link: NRDC Global Warming)

Practical Problems:
• How can we response to wildfires disasters more efficiently?(Related link: 2003 San Diego Wildfires )
• How can we minimize damage caused by Earthquakes in California?( Related link: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program - Northern California)
• Where are the invasive plant species in San Diego? (Related link: ESRI Plants and Animals Need GIS, Too)
• Where can I find out the location of licensed healthcare facilities near by my house? (Related link: CDHS California Nutrition Network - GIS Map Viewer)

Learn more about GIS...

About Us

The GIS Career & Education Awareness website is dedicated to the education of future GIS professionals and increasing general awareness of GIS technology. To achieve the goals of educating GIS professionals and increasing GIS awareness this website has compiled resources explaining what GIS is and how it can be used, designed online tools that showcase GIS related tasks, provided links to GIS programs and educational resources, and created a certification program using GIS learning modules via the web.

This website is supported by the National GeoTech (NSF-ATE DUE #0801893) Center and Scalable Skills Certification Program in GIS (NSF-ATE DUE #0401990).

More information about this project...

Website Contact

Dr. Ming-Hsiang(Ming) Tsou
San Diego State University
Geography Department
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-4493
PHONE: 1 (619) 594 0205
send email to Dr. Tsou, mtsou@mail.sdsu.edu

GeoTech Center is awarded the HI-TEC Innovative Program Award
Dr. Ming-Hsiang Tsou, Kenneth Yanow, and Phillip Davis accept the award at the 2009 High Impact Technology Exchange Conference (HI-TEC).

Ick Hoi Kim Recognized for his work with the EDC
Doctoral student Ick Hoi Kim (one student partner of the GeoTech Center Project) has received two awards as part of the Geography Department's ESRI Development Center (EDC) program.

New Learning Module!
Want to learn about web mapping? This new, optional, module introduces students to web mapping by using the Google Maps API.

GIS Career Learning Modules Version 4 Updated (including
allied California
Content Standards)

New GIS Career Learning Module - Family Tree

Web Mapping Services for 2007 San Diego Wildfires
Many kinds of information about 2007 San Diego wildfires can be found in this website, including evacuation map, damaged areas mapping, 3D visualization and animation maps, and references of how gis can help us fight wildfires.

2006 NSF-ATE GIS TEACHER WORKSHOP ALBUM
On November 3, 2006, teachers from all over San Diego County were introduced to the GIS Career Learning Modules.

2006 HOOVER-HIGH STUDENTS
VISIT ALBUM
On December 1, 2006, students from Hoover High School learned to use the GIS Career Learning Modules.

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